Letter of the day: Some contradictions on Australia Day

Neil Francey provided today's letter of the day. if you want to give you opinion then send your letter to news@dailymercury.com.au or submit it to Your Story

DESPITE the best efforts of the Australia Day Council to promote January 26 as the date to commemorate Australia's national day the exercise has been a massive fail for a number of reasons as illustrated by Patricia Russel's "reflections" (DM Letters 21/01/16).

This is because the date is an artifice, one based on a distorted view of history productive of misconceptions and one which is contradicted to the notion of inclusiveness and Australia as an independent nation.

First, the date has its basis in the arrival of the First Fleet essentially the British occupation of then New South Wales as a convict colony, hardly something which would endear it to indigenous peoples who quite rightly refer to it as "Invasion Day" (an ongoing issue in the context of reconciliation).

Secondly, even if the date is based on the arrival of the First Fleet, January 26 needs to be seen in an accurate historical basis.

The Journal of a First Fleet Surgeon by Dr George B. Worgan records that:

- The First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay in a staggered fashion from 18-20 January 1788, with Captain Phillip setting out to reconnoitre Port Jackson on the 21th returning on the 23rd.

- Phillip sailed for Port Jackson on the 25th with the remaining ships delayed by weather until Saturday the 26th.

- On the evening of the 26th, Phillip and his principal officers plus some soldiers who had gone ashore drank to the health of King George III & the success of the new colony.

- On Sunday 27 January a number of tradesmen and some convicts went ashore to establish the campsite for the new colony with orders not to offend or molest the "Natives".

- It was not for some days later that all the convicts and remaining soldiers went ashore.

Accordingly, January 26 can be seen as the date of official British colonisation of then New South Wales and is inextricably linked to the British monarchy.

It also has no relevance to the subsequent colonies of South Australia and Western Australia and it is no wonder it is an affront to Aboriginal peoples.

Patricia Russell's statement is an erroneous reference to January 1, 1901 being the date proclaimed under the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK) for the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Commonwealth of Australia did not in fact become truly independent until the passage of a raft of legislation including: Statute of Westminster 1931 (UK); Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 (Cth); Australia Act 1986 (UK); Australia Act 1986 (Cth).

So, what to make of all this? To be positive, January 1 seems to be the best date to commemorate the establishment of Australia as a nation. And, to build on that commemoration, why not have a typically Australian long weekend at the end of January with Saturday to acknowledge the arrival of the First Fleet, Sunday to recognise indigenous Australians and a holiday Monday to celebrate the inclusiveness of all Australians from the first convict arrivals to the most recent migrants and refugees.